Method of continously moving containers through a treatment process

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus is disclosed for printing on the sidewalls of containers such as cups having a generally circular cross-section and a cylindrical or frusto-conical shape. The apparatus is designed for continuous operation as distinguished from indexed operation. Methods and apparatus are disclosed which are used to accomplish certain portions of the over-all printing method, which form parts of the over-all printing apparatus, and which also have separate utility in other applications. Among these are a method and apparatus for individually separating and feeding containers from axially aligned or nested relationship in a stack, a turret assembly and a method for moving containers in supported condition through a treatment station, a print blanket assembly including a method and means for controllably pivoting the print blankets during printing, a method and apparatus for removing containers from an orbiting mandrel without contacting the printed sidewall, and a method and apparatus for drying decorating material on the sidewalls of printed containers. The feeding apparatus employs several successive container conveying sections, two of which operate at an increased speed to separate containers from a line or stack and feed them to a remote position. The turret assembly comprises a rotatable frame carrying a plurality of rotatably mounted mandrels through an orbital path including a treatment section and includes a friction wheel for accelerating the mandrels to a given rotational velocity in a section of the orbital path prior to the treatment section. Cam means are provided to control the direction of tilt of the axis of each mandrel as it passes through the treatment section when the surfaces of hollow frustoconical objects are to be treated. The printed blanket assembly includes apparatus for pivoting the print blankets during contact with the moving surface to be printed so that contact with the moving surface is maintained for a longer time. The apparatus for removing containers includes a suction cup moveable through an orbital path and operating on the end of the container to transfer successive containers to gripping belts which feed it rapidly onto a conveyor substantially free from any bouncing action or other motion disturbance. The container drying apparatus includes guides to cause containers to follow a skewed path along and across a conveyor in a manner which rotates the container about its axis and substantially uniformly exposes its sidewall, and a number of radiant heaters and coolers arranged to circulate air over the exterior sidewall of the container as it rotates and moves axially in a skewed path along and across the conveyor.

O United States Patent [151 3,661,282 Buhayar et al. [451 May 9, 1972 [54] METHOD OF CONTINOUSLY MOVING disclosed which are used to accomplish certain portions of the CONTAINERS THROUGH A overall printing methgd, parts of the ger-all prmttng apparatus, an w 1c ave separate u my in TREATMENT PROCESS other applications. Among these are a method and apparatus [72] Inventors: Eric S. Buhayar; James E. Hazard, both of for individually p and feeding comainers from 3351111." swanhmore; John Jaagus, Brooma; aligned or nested relationship in a stack, a turret assembly and Fred w Werner, Media; Robert a method for moving containers in supported condition wheeler Milmom park, a f Robert through a treatment station, a print blanket assembly includ- Crowe Cherry Hill NJ. ing a method and means for controllably pivoting the print blankets during printing, a method and apparatus for removl l Assigneel Sum P" p y Delaware ing containers from an orbiting mandrel without contacting [22] Filed: Man 4 1970 the printed sidewall, and a method and apparatus for drying I decorating material on the sidewalls of printed containers. [21] Appl. No.: 16,356

The feeding apparatus employs several successive container Related Application Data conveying sections, two of which operate at an increased speed to separate containers from a line or stack and feed [62] Dlvlslo" of 644955, June 9, 1967 aban' them to a remote position. The turret assembly comprises a donedrotatable frame carrying a plurality of rotatably mounted mandrels through an orbital path including a treatment section and [52] U.S.Cl ..214/l52, 101/40, 214/1 BV includes a f i ti wheel f accelerating the mandrels to a [5 l l Int. given rotational velocity in a ection of the orbital path prior Field 0f Search to the treatment section. Cam means are provided to control 101/124 1 the direction of tilt of the axis of each mandrel as it passes through the treatment section when the surfaces of hollow [56] References Cited frusto-conical objects are to be treated. The printed blanket assembly includes apparatus for pivoting the print blankets UNlTED STATES PATENTS during contact with the moving surface to be printed so that 2,484,671 11 1949 Bauman ..101 124 Contact with the moving Surface is maintained for a longer 3,302,580 2/1967 Edwards 101/39 time- The apparatus for removing containers includes a Primary E.\-aminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Attorney-William J. Foley, Robert S. Bramson and John W. Kane, Jr,

[ S 7 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus is disclosed for printing on the sidewalls of containers such as cups having a generally circular cross-section and a cylindrical or frusto-conical shape. The apparatus is designed for continuous operation as distinguished from indexed operation. Methods and apparatus are 7 tion cup moveable through an orbital path and operating on the end of the container to transfer successive containers to gripping belts which feed it rapidly onto a conveyor substantially free from any bouncing action or other motion disturbance. The container drying apparatus includes guides to cause containers to follow a skewed path along and across a conveyor in a manner which rotates the container about its axis and substantially uniformly exposes its sidewall, and a number of radiant heaters and coolers arranged to circulate air over the exterior sidewall of the container as it rotates and moves axially in a skewed path along and across the conveyor.

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1. A method for continuously moving hollow frusto-conical objects in supported condition through an object treatment process, comprising moving said oBjects continuously along a path through a treatment station, applying a rotational moment to said objects to cause them to rotate about their axes at a predetermined speed prior to movement through said treatment station, said rotation continuing through said treatment station, controllably varying the angular orientation of the rotational axis of each of said objects relative to said path as said objects are carried through said treatment station, whereby the portion of the exterior surface of the rotating object being treated which momentarily is nearest the treatment station is uniformly spaced therefrom along the length of said object as said object moves in rotation along said path.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said path is substantially circular.
 3. A method according to claim 2, including moving said object through a portion of said path which is other than circular as it passes through said treatment station.
 4. A method according to claim 1, including applying a vacuum between said support and at least portions of the interior surface of said hollow object prior to movement of said object through said treatment station so that said hollow object is securely held on said support during said treatment process.
 5. A method according to claim 1, including applying pneumatic pressure to the interior wall and interior end of each of said hollow objects to aid in releasing said objects from their supported condition after movement of said objects through said treatment station.
 6. A method for continuously moving frusto-conical objects through an object treatment zone where the exterior side walls of said objects are treated by prolonged contact with treating members rotating in a path adjoining the path of said objects, said method comprising the steps of: continuously moving said objects along a path which forms a circular arc passing through said treatment zone and allows said moving objects to have prolonged contact with said rotating treating members; rotating said objects about their axes during contact with said treating members at a treatment rotation speed sufficient to substantially prevent slip between said treating members and the portions of said objects in contact with said treating members; and controllably and continuously varying the angular orientation of the rotational axis of each of said objects relative to said path as said objects are carried through said treatment zone to cause contact between the rotating object being treated and the treating member to be along the full length of said object.
 7. A method according to claim 6, including the step of rotating said objects about their axes prior to contact with said treating members at a speed closely approximating said treatment rotation speed. 